COLD WAR OLYMPICS

Czechoslovak Society of  Arts and Sciences (SVU), New York Chapter,is a 501-c-3 nonprofit organization since 1956 promoting Czech and Slovakintellectual history throughlectures, readings,screenings and publications. It helps create a network of Czech and Slovak scholars, students, artists and professionals in New York City area.All our events are conducted in English.Our events are made possible thanks to our members,the generous support of the Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association,and cooperation with the Czech Center and the Czech and Slovak Consulates.newyork@svu2000.org

Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences(SVU), New York Chapter

A book talk by author Harry Blutstein, PhD, with a special guest Olga Fikotova

Harry Blutstein will introduce the US edition (McFarland 2022) of his book Cold War Olympics and discuss the cold war climate of the post-war Olympics focusing on two Czechoslovak cases that made the international news. The 1948 London Olympics saw the first defection, as Czechoslovak gold medal-winning women’s gymnastics team leader, Marie Provazníková, refused to return home. In 1956, in defiance of her government, Czechoslovak discus thrower, Olga Fikotová, refused to renounce her love for US athlete Hal Connolly, creating an international incident. The book also exposes the activities of the KGB and secret police from Eastern European countries to spy on their own athletes, and counter measures taken by the West. Harry Blutstein, PhD, former Adjunct Professor in the School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning at RMIT University, is a fellow at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Since 1972, he has been a freelance journalist, and published feature articles in op-eds in major Australian newspapers on a wide variety of topics. www.harryblutstein.com.Please note: This event will be followed on Sunday, April 10 at 2 PM, EST, by a special online panel discussion, A Woman to Remember: Marie Provazníková (1890-1991). It will be a tribute to a visionary leader of Sokol who helped transform women’s gymnastics worldwide.----------------------------------------Harry Blutstein, PhD, former Adjunct Professor in the School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning at RMIT University, is a fellow at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Since 1972, he has been a freelance journalist, and published feature articles in op-eds in major Australian newspapers on a wide variety of topics. He is also the author of Games of Discontent on the 1968 Olympic Games. <a href="https://harryblutstein.com." target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">harryblutstein.com</a>. Twitter @harryblutsteinOlga Fikotová is a 1956 Melbourne Olympics disc gold medalist. Her romance with American hammer gold medalist Harold Connolly became an issue for the Czechoslovak communist government. Ultimately, the couple wed and moved to the United States. Banned from representing Czechoslovakia, Olga Fikotova-Connolly competed in every Olympics until 1972, representing the United States. In 1968, Olga published the book The Rings of Destiny. As a Certified Exercise Therapist, she taught at the University of California at Irvine until 2017. She still coaches fitness/wellness at EoS Fitness Club in Las Vegas.Free. Suggested donation $5.00.Organized by the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU) in New York with the support of the Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association (BBLA).

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COLD WAR OLYMPICS

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